Broad Foundation suspends $1 million prize for urban school districts

FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2014 file photo, billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad speaks during a presentation of his half-completed museum, "The Broad" in Los Angeles. A foundation started by Broad has suspended a national prize, Broad Prize for Urban Education, awarded annually to a top-performing urban school system. The $1 million prize was pulled amid concerns that the schools are failing to improve quickly enough. (AP Photo/Nick Ut,File)
(The Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES – A foundation started by billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad has suspended a national prize awarded annually to a top-performing urban school system.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday (http://lat.ms/16FF9ct ) that the $1 million prize was pulled amid concerns that the schools are failing to improve quickly enough.

In addition, associates say, Broad is no longer certain that he wants to reward traditional school districts at all.

The 13-year-old prize was designed to reward and encourage success in raising student achievement. Bruce Reed, president of the Los Angeles-based Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, says there has been some improvement, but it's happening slowly.

Broad recently established a $500,000 prize for charter organizations, an award that will continue.